[Inthemanureagain]

Good morning all.  I've been chitting some leftover potatoes from Christmas.  Do you think it's too early to plant them on my allottment? I'ts the 2nd Feb today and frosty!  Thanks. (I'm a bit new to this game!) Also, can anyone tell me what else could be planted this month?  Thanks again.

[deepinthewoods]

yes its way too early! any frost will set them right back.

you can think about garlic, sowing onion seeds and broad beans, and maybe some rocket.

[Marches Farmer]

Try the ploughman's way to tell if the ground is warm enough - drop your trousers and sit on the ground.  If you don't yelp and spring back up again, it is!

[MAK]

If you are new to veg growing then have a look in the charity shops for a month by month veg planner book. You should prune any fruit trees you have and think about or plan starting tomatoe seed ( assuming you are not too far north).
If you knock off any shoots from the spuds you have then they will chit again towards the end of the month.
Worth doing some digging though if you have some manure or compost to dig in.

[gerpsych]

It's the frosty that's the clue. The frost will get them if you plant them now. You should be getting garlic in, it is already a bit late. Thanks for your question because it has reminded me that I had better get the cloves separated and planted.

[MAK]

Good luck with the garlic. Planted mine in December and a few shoots are already showing. Snow here today so I may just chuck another log on the fire and watch the rugby 

[Fowgill Farm]

always plant my spuds on Good friday, don't know why must have read it somewhere
mandy

[hexhammeasure]

you can plant some in tubs now if you have a greenhouse or polytunnel for an early crop

[Inthemanureagain]

Thanks very much for all the advice!!!!  Best get me garlic in then!

[Lesley Silvester]

always plant my spuds on Good friday, don't know why must have read it somewhere
mandy

I think it's a tradition dating back to the days when farm workers did a six day week and weren't allowed to dig on a Sunday.  Good Friday was the first day off they  had so that's when they planted the spuds.

[hexhammeasure]

in the (good) old days a lot of farmworkers never planted until after the hirings which was 1st of May